How, exactly, do you find the time to work out? When do you do it? How do you fit it in with the kids and husband and just...everything? What types do you like? I want to work out, I really do, but I just can't seem to ever fit it in regularly. We can't afford a gym membership, let alone the childcare to go with it, and with Spencer going to bed so early, I can't really depend on him to watch the kids for me while I do it. Honestly, it probably doesn't help that I've never been a huge fan of any physical activity other then dancing and making out (oops, how did that slip in there?). So, really, how, in heaven's name, do you do it?
22 comments:
At this point in my life, I don't have any responsibilites but making out (yeah I love that activity too) and working. So it's quite easy to fit it in right now.
Whenever we have littles, then I'll deal with that as it comes. I have found, however, that since we've added working out into our schedule, we're MUCH happier and more energetic! Also, as far as the gym goes, we found a local one that costs 20 bucks for the both of us a month. It's great for beginners (us) and it's just what we need.
I'm sure, however, being a full time Mommy is a workout in itself. :)
In an ideal world I wake up before my kids do, and do a workout video or run on the treadmill or on the streets. but I've never seen that ideal world.
So really I just wanted to come on here to subscribe to all the comments. Thanks for opening up this forum! I was wondering the same q myself!
The only way I've ever been able to do it is if I go to a gym. Because if I spend the money on it, then, I will make myself go just so I don't waste the money. Also the free gym daycare is a good motivator when I need a break from the kiddos. But, I can't afford it right now either... so I guess the fat is just destined to sit there.
I don't know. When you figure it out let me know. I try to do it before Bella gets up and sometimes I'll push her in the stroller with me - that's a lot harder with 3 kids (one of my friends does it). She's insane! I have the luxury of having a nanny/day care 4 days a week, but I don't like to do it then, because I feel like I should be working while she is with them. I'm the person in your cartoon FOR SURE!
I'm also mostly commenting just for ideas. Not that I have children or a spouse to work around, however, I do have a hectic schedule and should probably get SOME sort of physical activity worked in there.
Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred. Only takes 20 mins, kicks your butt and tones you up. Do it during a nap or quiet time. Or wake up 20 mins earlier or I bet you could even do it while your kids are with you, they might like to do it too!
Ooh! Yeah, Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is awesome. If you love Netflix like I do they have lots of DVD's on instant watch that are great too. Jillian's counterpart, Bob, makes some good ones too.
I fit it in where ever I can, sometimes that is the "30 day shred" after the boys are in bed, sometimes the second Tyler walks in the door and dinner is just finishing up on the stove, I go for a mile and a half jog, you do whatever you can when you can, that is the only way you can do it! P.S. the 30 day shred is wonderful! lost inches off everything! but really my biggest thing is, turn up the music and burn some calories!
I consistently worked out about four days a week when I would drive to my friends' house and we'd take turns watching the kids. The downside was that the whole thing took 2-2.5 hours every morning so I never got anything done. I'm now back to the drawing board.
Well, I have to admit that I have it easy - Dave runs a gym, so it's free & he watches Evie, so child care is free, too. But fitting it in? That's not so easy. Esp since I have to wait until Dave has fewer than 2 clients (so he can watch Evie), so my work out times can be a little crazy if I don't go when I'm supposed to - which is around 9 am. Perfect time to get up, get Evie fed, out the door, run, shower & get dressed before lunch. But often I sleep in....
The good news is, 20-30 mins three days a week of cardio is a great start (easier to fit in than 45 or an hour) & you don't have to do weight training, but I do it for about 45 mins (because I'm a whimp & slow) twice a week. So, luckily, it doesn't take tooo much time out of the day.
I have the Jillian Micheals 30 day Shred, the Wii Fit & Dance Dance Revolution - all things that we've picked up to get me moving. None of them worked. Getting my booty to a gym is about the only thing that works. But that's because, again, I'm a whimp and need someone's gentle encouragement.
If you do want the Jillian Micheals dvd, let me know & I'll send mine to you & include Dave's mods, because she's not spot on with a few things. That's the beauty of having an ATC for a hubby - he knows when the personal trainers are full of it & are doing things that either ineffective or can cause injury. Let's not get started on how I feel about personal trainers in general or the ones on tv.
Anyways, that's why you should move out here and work out with my hubby , while I watch your kids :)
Whit, run nearly every night after the kids get in bed. I promise to give myself at least 35min of cardio ---even if it means dinner dishes aren't washed until the next morning. sigh.
I do have a treadmill though, and running is forever a part of Jared and I's life, so it was worth the investment. If you don't have a treadmill, the 30-40min workout videos ARE fabulous. They give you a built in routine, and motivation to look after yourself better...food intake, sleep, energy for the kids, and making out...
It's all around more beneficial to jump on the dubya-dubya (Workout Wagon) but like your comic says...ya gotta talk yourself into it ;) Once you do though, you'll never go back!
Good Luck!
Haha I don't work out...but now that I'm pregnant I have an excuse to just walk everywhere, which I love. I've never minded long, brisk walks but I only run if i'm being chased by a bear, and that hasn't happened yet! (I have a legit excuse...hypoglycemia...my blood sugar is messed up all day and the next after one run attempt!)
Good luck to you! I love your little plug about making out. You are so stinkin funny! :o)
oh the never ending question of moms! sometimes i wonder why we have babies. it's during the years we are young and should look hot and yet we decide to put on 30lbs to have a baby, then need to lose it all only to put it back on for the next baby.
did the gym pass with childcare and it's great if affordable but doesn't work with a newborn b/c they don't watch them. i have resorted to running about 3 times a week. invest in an awesome double jogger. i turn my run times into play times. always run towards a different park and stop and play along the way and can do a feeding or diaper change as needed. running is my only choice in france, weston is gone all day and no one to watch the kids. i did just find an exercise ball here since i didn't bring mine and have a 25 min core workout i'm going to start waking up to do in the mornings. the easiest motivation for me is to get a jogging buddy. it always makes it more enjoyable and easy to stick to when you have a partner!
i guess you have to try various things to find what fits with you!
okay whit - this has been my question for the last i don't know how many years...
when i had a nursing baby who was not sleeping through the night i would do a workout dvd or run on the treadmill while they were napping.
however, now that both kiddos are sleeping through the night i wake up before them and the hubby (6am) and go outside and run. It was hard getting up at first but I'll tell ya never has a day gone by that i have regretted getting up so early. it has been perfect. i get up run (30-40 min), do a short strength training dvd, shower, and even get my scripture reading in by 7 something when they wake up. i have absolutely loved it and feel so relaxed every day knowing that i've completed that in the morning and don't have to dread it all day long.
i only do it 4 days a week so that i still have 3 other days during the week to look forward to sleeping in.
good luck and i look forward to hearing about what you try and what ends up working for ya!
Maybe we need to get together in the evenings and do something. I have a Y membership that I use to go down and walk on the treadmill or do weights. A single membership shouldn't be that expensive and they don't close until 9pm, so that might work for you. I'm up for some company in the working out department once I move, if you're interested. :)
I love exercising with videos, yoga (when I am in a relaxed mood) or walking with a friend and strollers. I am just discovering the joy of working out myself, it is a sacrifice, less time for other things I have gotten used to - but worth it!
If you find some videos the kids like or pretend to do with you - that is fun too!
Funny you should mention this. I have been mulling this over in my mind for awhile. I've come to the bottom...looked in the mirror and realized I've been "pleasantly plump" for 4 years now. Sigh...but, I'm really ready to dedicate myself to lose it. So-I'm counting cals AND going to exercise. So when to do it? I used to go running early in the morning before Kit got up and left, but his schedule here is that if he didn't work out in the morning, he wouldn't get home until the kiddos are in bed-so, he is getting out the door before 5:30. Great, just puts a damper on things...My kids are beasts when it comes to me working out. They don't let me do it without whines, requests, etc. Walking with all 4 is counter-productive. It is a huge ordeal and not too cardiovascular. --Just Stressful--So...hmmm. I've decided, though, to figure it out. I was planning on getting up with Kit and doing it then, but it didn't happen, so when I did wake up I ignored the beasts and did a video. I like them...it gives me a routine. Right now I'm just doing cardio. I find I get all gung-ho then give up. I'm going to do this! Maybe you could do it after Spence is in bed. Do yoga, I really like it. Kit and I are going to try doing it together after the beasts are in bed to do something together AND exercise. It is physical and would be calming/stress relieving after your beasties are in bed.
I'd say do it after Spencer goes to bed. As silly as it sounds, I love turbo jam. It's a really good workout with multiple videos on the dvds which gives you the option not to do the same work out everyday. I would be happy to loan them to you for a trial run. You and I both know I won't be needing them.
My two-cents (from your health-nut friend): Commit. You just have to decide to do it. Right now Carlin and I are doing Power 90. We get up at 6:30am everyday and do it. Sometimes we have to pause the video to get Lillian settled, but we leave Samuel in his room until we're done. (He usually sleeps until 7am, but sometimes he's up earlier than that). Remember that you only need about 30 minutes of workout a day. That can be 15 in the morning and 15 at night, or 10 minutes 3 times a day, or all at once.
I also take a yoga class at the local Tech college, it's cheap and offered in the evenings. Basically, I'm mean and leave my kids with my husband as soon as he walks in the door. One thing I've done in the past is put a casserole in the stove when Carlin comes home, tell him to watch it while I go for a brisk walk (I don't run. ever.). Casseroles usually take about 30 minutes to bake so it works out perfect. I come home and dinner is ready and I feel refreshed and ready to take over with the kids again.
Don't worry about counting calories. Eat a balanced diet of whole grain, protein, and fruits and veggies and you will be fine. Stop eating 3 hours before bedtime and try to cut out the junk food. That's all I've got.
got a treadmill. that's the only thing I could get to work and actually stay working. Even if I just walk (faster than a kids pace) it's better than nothing.
I forgot to add...I got myself a nice double jogging stroller so I can take my kids with me. It works really good if we go about 8:00 at night, then while I am running it just puts them right to sleep!
Good luck!
ok, so it probably doesn't make sense that I put "I forgot to add" because my first comment didn't appear! (hopefully it doesn't later) :) Anyway, When I could go running in the morning, I loved it. I felt soooo good all day! I have Bob's boot camp and Jillian's 30 day shred, and my kids like to do it with me, which makes it kinda hard to work out sometimes because I am laughing so hard, but hey, burning calories is burning calories, right?!!
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